Introduction - Brookhaven National Laboratory 1... · 2014-02-06 · Introduction 1 2007 Site environmental report DRAFT Established in 1947, Brookhaven National Laboratory ... a

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1Introduction

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Established in 1947, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is a multi-program national laboratory managed for the U.S. Department of Energy by Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA), a partnership formed by Stony Brook University and Battelle Memorial Institute. BSA has been managing and operating the Laboratory under a performance-based contract with DOE since 1998. From 1947 to 1998, BNL was operated by Associated Universities Incorporated. Prior to 1947, the site operated as Camp Upton, a U.S. Army training camp, which was active from 1917 to 1920 during World War I and from 1940 to 1946 during World War II.

BNL is one of 10 national laboratories under DOE’s Office of Science, which provides most of the Laboratory’s research dollars and direction. BNL has a history of outstanding scientific achievements. For over 60 years, Laboratory researchers have successfully worked to envision, construct, and operate large and innovative scientific facilities and use the data generated to make advances in many fields. Under BSA’s management, new programs in place at BNL emphasize improved environmental, safety, security, and health performance.

1.1 Laboratory Mission

BNL’s broad mission is to carry out basic and applied research in long-term programs in a safe and environmentally sound manner with the co-operation, support, and appropriate involvement of its scientific and local communities. The fun-damental elements of the Laboratory’s role in support of DOE’s strategic missions in energy resources, environmental quality, and national security are:To conceive, design, construct, and oper-

ate complex, leading-edge, user-oriented research facilities in response to the needs of DOE and the international community of users.

To conduct safe, secure, and environ-mentally sound operations and promote mutually beneficial relationships with its stakeholders.

To carry out basic and applied research in long-term, high-risk programs at the fron-tier of science.

To develop advanced technologies that ad-dress national needs and to transfer them

to other organizations and to the commer-cial sector.

To disseminate technical knowledge to educate future generations of scientists and engineers, to maintain technical currency in the nation’s workforce, and to encourage scientific awareness in the general public.

BNL’s Environmental, Safety, Security, and Health (ESSH) Policy is the Laboratory’s commitment to continual improvement in ESSH performance. Under this policy, the Laboratory’s goals are to protect the environ-ment, conserve resources, and prevent pollu-tion; maintain a safe workplace by planning work and performing it safely; provide security for people, property, information, computing systems, and facilities; protect human health within our boundaries and in the surrounding community; achieve and maintain compliance with applicable ESSH requirements; maintain an open, proactive, and constructive relationship with employees, neighbors, regulators, DOE, and other stakeholders; and continually improve ESSH performance.

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In 2001, BNL was the first DOE Office of Sci-ence National Laboratory to be registered under the prestigious International ISO 14001 envi-ronmental management standard. In addition, in December 2006, BNL was the first DOE Labo-ratory to achieve full registration under the Oc-cupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 Standard. These programs are described in detail in Chapter 2 of this report. Registration to these standards was maintained throughout 2007.

1.2 History

BNL was founded in 1947 by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), which was a pre-decessor to the present DOE. AEC provided the initial funding for BNL’s research into peaceful uses of the atom. The objective was to promote basic research in the physical, chemical, biolog-ical, and engineering aspects of the atomic sci-ences. The result was the creation of a regional laboratory to design, construct, and operate large scientific machines that individual institu-tions could not afford to develop on their own.

Although BNL no longer operates any re-search reactors, the Laboratory’s first major scientific facility was the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor (BGRR), which was the first peace-time reactor to be constructed in the Unit-ed States following World War II. The reactor’s primary mission was to produce neutrons for scientific experimentation in the fields of medi-cine, biology, chemistry, physics, and nuclear technology. The BGRR operated from 1950 to 1968 and is currently being decommissioned and will be dismantled. The BGRR will undergo long-term routine inspection and surveillance when decommissioning is complete.

The BGRR’s research capacity was replaced and surpassed in 1965 by the High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR). The HFBR was used solely for scientific research and provided neutrons for experiments in materials science, chemistry, bi-ology, and physics. For more than 30 years, the HFBR was one of the premier neutron beam re-actors in the world. In 1997, workers discovered that a leak in the HFBR spent fuel storage pool had been releasing tritium to the groundwater (see Chapter 7 for further details). In November

1999, the Secretary of Energy decided that the HFBR would be permanently shut down. Since that time, actions have taken place to prepare the HFBR for permanent decontamination and dismantling. A proposed plan and schedule for its decommissioning has been presented for public comment. All spent fuel from the HFBR has been removed and transported off site.

Medical research at BNL began in 1950 with the opening of one of the first hospitals devoted to nuclear medicine. It was followed by the Medical Research Center in 1958 and the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor (BMRR) in 1959. The BMRR was the first nuclear reactor in the nation to be constructed specifically for medical research. Due to a re-duction of research funding, the BMRR was shut down in December 2000. All spent fuel from the BMRR has been removed and trans-ported off site, and the facility is currently in a “cold” shutdown mode as a radiological facitity.The Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (BLIP) was built in 1973. It creates radioactive forms of ordinary chemical elements that can be used alone or incorporated into radiotracers for use in nuclear medicine research or for clinical diag-nosis and treatment. BNL’s Center for Transla-tional Neuroimaging (CTN) uses brain-imaging tools, including positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, to research causes of, and treat-ments for, brain diseases such as drug addiction, appetite disorders, attention deficit disorder, and neurodegenerative disease. The develop-ment of PET and MRI also has helped facilitate the development of new drugs for physicians worldwide to treat patients for cancer and heart disease.

High-energy particle physics research at BNL began in 1952 with the Cosmotron, the first par-ticle accelerator to achieve billion-electron-volt energies. Work at the Cosmotron resulted in a Noble Prize in 1957. After 14 years of service, the Cosmotron ceased operation and was dis-mantled due to design limitations that restricted the energies it could achieve. The Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS), a much larger particle accelerator, became operational in 1960. The AGS allowed scientists to accelerate

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protons to energies that yielded many discover-ies of new particles and phenomena, for which BNL researchers were awarded three Nobel Prizes in physics. The AGS receives protons from BNL’s linear accelerator (Linac), designed and built in the late 1960s as a major upgrade to the AGS complex. The Linac’s purpose is to provide accelerated protons for use at AGS fa-cilities and BLIP. The AGS booster, constructed in 1991, further enhanced the capabilities of the AGS, enabling it to accelerate protons and heavy ions to even higher energies. The Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator began operating in 1970 and is the starting point of the chain of ac-celerators that provide ions of gold, other heavy metals, and protons for experiments at the Rela-tivistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC).

RHIC began operation in 2000. Inside this two-ringed particle accelerator, two beams of gold ions, heavy metals, or protons circulating at nearly the speed of light, collide head-on, re-leasing large amounts of energy. RHIC is used to study what the universe may have looked like in the first few moments after its creation, of-fering insights into the fundamental forces and properties of matter. Planned upgrades to RHIC will expand the facility’s research. The first up-grade, RHIC II, will increase the collider’s colli-sion rate and improve the sensitivity of the large detectors it uses. Another planned upgrade, the eRHIC, will add a high-energy electron ring to create the world’s only electron-heavy ion col-lider, which physicists expect will probe a new form of matter.

The NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) became operational in 2003. It is jointly managed by DOE’s Office of Science and NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The NSRL uses heavy ions extracted from the AGS booster to produce beams of radiation similar to radia-tion that would be encountered by astronauts on long missions. Studies are conducted to assess risks and test protective measures. The NSRL is one of the few facilities in the world that can simulate the harsh cosmic and solar radiation environment found in space.

The National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) uses a linear accelerator and booster synchrotron to guide charged particles in orbit

inside two electron storage rings for use in a wide range of physical and biological experi-ments. The NSLS produces beams of very in-tense light in the x-ray, ultraviolet, and infrared spectra, allowing scientists to study the structure of proteins, investigate the properties of new materials, and understand the fate of chemicals in the environment. Although the current NSLS has been continually updated since its commis-sioning in 198�, today the practical limits of its performance have been reached. A new syn-chrotron, NSLS-II, is planned for completion in the next decade and will be the highest resolu-tion light source in the world, further expanding the ability to probe structures on the nanoscale. Site preparation for this new facility will com-mence in 2009.

The Laboratory’s Research Support Building (RSB) was completed in �006, and provides administrative and support functions in a single location for employees and visiting scientists. The RSB is rated as “green” or environmentally friendly, according to a scoring system devel-oped by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environment Design (LEED) Program. The RSB also surpasses New York State requirements for energy efficiency by 15 percent.

Construction of the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) began in 2005 and was completed in May 2007. The CFN provides state-of-the-art capabilities for the fabrication and study of nanoscale materials, with an em-phasis on atomic-level tailoring to achieve de-sired properties and functions. Nanoscience has the potential to bring about and accelerate new technologies in energy distribution, drug deliv-ery, sensors, and industrial processes. The CFN is a science-based user facility, used for devel-oping strong scientific programs while offering broad access to its capabilities and collaboration through an active user program. It is one of five Nanoscale Science Research Centers funded by DOE’s Office of Science and supports the Lab-oratory’s goal of leadership in the development of advanced materials and processes for energy applications.

Past operations and research at the BNL site dating back to the early 1940s when it was

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Camp Upton have resulted in localized environ-mental contamination. As a result, the Labora-tory was added to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) National Priorities List of contaminated sites in 1989. One of 27 sites on Long Island identified for priority cleanup, BNL has made significant progress toward improving environmental operations and reme-diating past contamination. DOE will continue to fund cleanup projects until the Laboratory is restored and removed from the National Priori-ties List. Major accomplishments in cleanup ac-tivities at BNL are discussed further throughout this report.

1.3 researcH and discoveries

BNL conducts research in nuclear and high-energy physics, the physics and chemistry of materials, environmental science, alternative energy sources, nuclear nonproliferation, neuro-sciences, medical imaging, and structural biol-ogy. Approximately 2,700 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff work at the Labo-ratory, and more than 3,500 guest researchers from around the world visit the site each year to participate in scientific collaborations. BNL’s world-class research facilities are also available to university, industrial, and government per-sonnel.

To date, six Nobel Prizes have been awarded for discoveries made wholly or partly at BNL. Some significant discoveries and developments made at the Laboratory include L-dopa, used to treat Parkinson’s disease; the first synthesis of human insulin; the use of x-rays and neutrons to study biological specimens; the radionuclide thallium-�01, used in millions of cardiac stress tests each year; the radionuclide technetium-99, also used to diagnose heart disease; x-ray angiography for noninvasive cardiac imag-ing; and research on solar neutrinos and how they change form as they move through space; magnetically-levitated (maglev) trains; energy technologies studies; and researching pollution-eating bacteria.

Examples of current research at the Labora-tory include the investigation of new nanostruc-tures and nanoparticles; the development of

high-temperature superconductors; novel states of matter being revealed at RHIC; medical im-aging techniques to investigate the brain mecha-nisms underlying drug addiction, psychiatric disorders, and metabolism; new methods of understanding the earth’s climate; and research into how infections begin.

1.4 FaciLities and operations

Most of the Laboratory’s principal facilities are located near the center of the site. The de-veloped area is approximately 1,650 acres:500 acres originally developed by the Army

(as part of Camp Upton) and still used for offices and other operational buildings

�00 acres occupied by large, specialized research facilities

550 acres used for outlying facilities, such as the Sewage Treatment Plant, research agricultural fields, housing facilities, and fire breaks

400 acres of roads, parking lots, and con-necting areas

The balance of the site, approximately 3,600 acres, is mostly wooded and represents the na-tive pine barrens ecosystem.

The major scientific facilities at BNL are briefly described in Figure 1-1. Additional facil-ities, shown in Figure 1-2 and briefly described below, support BNL’s science and technology mission by providing basic utility and environ-mental services.Central Chilled Water Plant. This plant

provides chilled water sitewide for air conditioning and process refrigeration via underground piping. The plant has a large refrigeration capacity and reduces the need for local refrigeration plants and air condi-tioning.

Central Steam Facility (CSF). This facility provides high-pressure steam for facility and process heating sitewide. Either natural gas or fuel oil can be used to produce the steam, which is conveyed to other facilities through underground piping. Condensate is collected and returned to the CSF for reuse, to conserve water and energy.

Fire Station. The Fire Station houses six response vehicles. The BNL Fire Rescue

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Group provides on-site fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous material response, salvage, and property protection. The Fire Rescue Group can respond within 5 minutes to emergencies in the core area of the Laboratory and within 8 minutes to emergencies in the outer areas (RHIC and eastern portions of the site).

Major Petroleum Facility (MPF). This facility provides reserve fuel for the CSF during times of peak operation. With a total capacity of 2.3 million gallons, the MPF primarily stores No. 6 fuel oil. The 1997 conversion of CSF boilers to burn natural gas as well as oil has significantly reduced the Laboratory’s reliance on oil as a sole fuel source when other fuels are more eco-nomical.

Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). This plant treats sanitary and certain process wastewa-ter from BNL facilities prior to discharge into the Peconic River, similar to the operations of a municipal sewage treatment plant. The plant has a design capacity of 3 million gallons per day. Effluent is moni-tored and controlled under a permit issued by the New York State Department of Envi-ronmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

Waste Concentration Facility (WCF). This facility was previously used for the receipt, processing, and volume reduction of aque-ous radioactive waste. At present, the WCF houses equipment and auxiliary systems required for operation of the liquid low-level radioactive waste storage and pump systems.

Waste Management Facility (WMF). This facility is a state-of-the-art complex for managing the wastes generated from BNL’s research and operations activities. The facility was built with advanced environ-mental protection systems and features, and began operation in December 1997.

Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The potable water treatment plant has a capacity of 5 million gallons per day. Potable water is obtained from six on-site wells. Three wells located along the western boundary of the site are treated with a lime soften-

ing process to remove naturally occurring iron. The plant is also equipped with dual air-stripping towers to ensure that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are at or below New York State drinking water standards. Three wells located along the eastern sec-tion of the developed site are treated with carbon to ensure that VOC levels meet New York State drinking water standards. BNL’s potable water met all drinking water standards in 2007.

1.5 Location, LocaL popuLation, and LocaL econoMy

BNL is located on Long Island, 60 miles east of New York City. The Laboratory’s 5,265-acre site is near Long Island’s geographic center and is part of the Town of Brookhaven, the largest township (both in area and population) in Suf-folk County. The Laboratory is one of the five largest, high-technology employers on Long Island, with approximately �,700 employees that include scientists, engineers, technicians, and administrative personnel. More than 75 per-cent of BNL employees live in Suffolk County. In addition, BNL annually hosts an estimated 3,500 visiting scientists, more than 30 percent of whom are from New York State universi-ties and businesses. The visiting scientists and sometimes their families, as well as visiting stu-dents, reside in apartments and dormitories on site or in nearby communities.

An independent Suffolk County Planning Commission report concluded that BNL’s spending for operations, procurement, payroll, construction, medical benefits, and technology transfer spreads throughout Long Island’s econ-omy, making BNL vital to the local economic health, as well as to New York State (Kamer 2006). In 2007, BNL purchased $40.2 million worth of supplies and services from Long Island businesses. Approximately $13.8 million was spent on 467 purchases in Nassau County, and $26.4 million was spent on 2,786 purchases in Suffolk County. BNL’s total annual budget in 2007 was approximately $510.2 million, of which approximately 55.6 percent, or $283.8 million, was spent on employee salaries, wages, and fringe benefits.

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Figure 1-1. Major scientific Facilities at bnL.

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1. relativistic heavy ion Collider (rhiC)the rhiC is a world-class scientific research facility. the rhiC accelerator drives two intersecting beams of gold ions, other heavy metal ions, and protons head-on to form subatomic collisions. What physicists learn from these collisions may help us understand more about why the physical world works the way it does, from the smallest subatomic particles, to the largest stars. Current rhiC experiments include the Solenoidal tracker at rhiC (Star), a detector used to track particles produced by ion collisions; the pheniX detector, used to record different particles emerging from collisions; the Broad range hadron magnetic Spectrometer (BrahmS), used to study particles as they pass through detectors; and phoBoS, an experiment based on the premise that when new collisions occur, new physics will be readily identified.

2. alternating Gradient Synchrotron (aGS)the aGS is a particle accelerator used to propel protons and heavy ions to high energies for physics research. the aGS is capable of accelerating protons and heavy ions, such as gold and iron. the linear accelerator (linac) serves as a proton injector for the aGS Booster.

3. aGS Boosterthe aGS Booster is a circular accelerator used for physics research and radiobiology studies. it receives either a proton beam from the linac or heavy ions from the tandem van de Graaff and accelerates these before injecting them into the aGS ring for further acceleration. the Booster also serves as the energetic heavy ion source for the naSa Space radiation laboratory. Construction is planned for spring 2005. this new facility will be used to simulate the harsh cosmic and solar radiation environment found in space.

4. linear accelerator (linac) and Brookhaven linac isotope producer (Blip)the linac provides beams of polarized protons for the aGS and rhiC. the excess beam capacity is used to produce radioisotopes for research and medical imaging at the Blip. the Blip is one of the nation’s key production facilities for radioisotopes, which are crucial to clinical nuclear medicine. the Blip also supports research on new diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.

5. heavy ion transfer line (hitl)the hitl connects the tandem van de Graaff and the aGS Booster. this interconnection enables the transport of ions of intermediate mass to the aGS Booster, where they are accelerated before injection into the aGS. the ions are then extracted and sent to the aGS experimental area for physics research.

6. radiation therapy Facility (rtF)part of the medical research Center, the rtF is a high-energy dual x-ray mode linear accelerator used for radiation therapy for cancer patients. this accelerator delivers therapeutically useful beams of x-rays and electrons for conventional and advanced medical radiotherapy techniques.

7. Brookhaven medical research reactor (Bmrr)the Bmrr was the world’s first nuclear reactor built exclusively for medical research and therapy. it produced neutrons in an optimal energy range for

experimental treatment of a type of brain cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme. the Bmrr was shut down in december 2000 due to a reduction in medical research funding.

8. Scanning transmission electron microscope (Stem)the Stem facility includes two microscopes, Stem 1 and Stem 3, used for biological research. Both devices allow scientists to see the intricate details of living things, from bacteria to human tissue. the images provide a picture and data that are used in mass analysis.

9. Center for Functional nanomaterials (CFn)the CFn provides state-of-the-art capabilities for the fabrication and study of nanoscale materials, with an emphasis on atomic-level tailoring to achieve desired properties and functions. the CFn is a science-based user facility, simultaneously developing strong scientific programs while offering broad access to its capabilities and collaboration through an active user program. the overarching scientific theme of the CFn is the development and understanding of nanoscale materials that address the nations’ challenges in energy security, consistent with the department of energy mission.

10. national Synchrotron light Source (nSlS)the nSlS uses a linear accelerator and booster synchrotron as an injection system for two electron storage rings that provide intense light spanning the electromagnetic spectrum from the infrared through x-rays. the properties of this light and the 80 specially designed experimental stations, called beamlines, allow scientists to perform a large variety of experiments.

11. high Flux Beam reactor (hFBr)the hFBr was one of the premier neutron physics research facilities in the world. neutron beams produced at the hFBr were used to investigate the molecular structure of materials, which aided in pharmaceutical design and materials development and expanded the knowledge base of physics, chemistry, and biology. the hFBr was permanently shut down in november 1999.

12. tandem van de Graaff and Cyclotronthese accelerators are used in medium energy physics investigations and for producing special nuclides. the tandem van de Graff accelerators are used to bombard materials with ions for manufacturing and testing purposes, and to supply rhiC with heavy ions. the cyclotrons, operated by the Chemistry department, are used for the production of radiotracers for use in positron emission tomography (pet) and magnetic resonance imaging (mri) studies.

13. Brookhaven Graphite research reactor (BGrr)the BGrr was the first peace-time reactor to be constructed in the united States following World War ii. it was used for scientific exploration in the fields of medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, and nuclear engineering. the BGrr is currently being decommissioned under the environmental restoration program.



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hydrology and geology in the vicinity of the Laboratory indicate that the uppermost Pleisto-cene deposits, composed of highly permeable glacial sands and gravel, are between 1�0 and 250 feet thick (Warren et al. 1968, Scorca et al. 1999). Water penetrates these deposits read-ily, and there is little direct runoff into surface streams unless precipitation is intense. The sandy deposits store large quantities of water in the Upper Glacial aquifer. On average, about half of the annual precipitation is lost to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration and the other half percolates through the soil to recharge the groundwater (Koppelman 1978).

The Long Island Regional Planning Board and Suffolk County have identified the Labo-ratory site as overlying a deep-flow recharge zone for Long Island groundwater (Koppel-man 1978). Precipitation and surface water that recharge within this zone have the potential to

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1.6 GeoLoGy and HydroLoGy

BNL is situated on the western rim of the shallow Peconic River watershed. The marshy areas in the northern and eastern sections of the site are part of the headwaters of the Peconic River. Depending on the height of the water table relative to the base of the riverbed, the Peconic River both recharges to, and receives water from, the underlying upper glacial aquifer. In times of sustained drought, the river water recharges to the groundwater; with normal to above-normal precipitation, the river receives water from the aquifer.

In general, the terrain of the BNL site is gen-tly rolling, with elevations varying between 44 and 120 feet above mean sea level. Depth to groundwater from the land surface ranges from 5 feet near the Peconic River to about 80 feet in the higher elevations of the central and west-ern portions of the site. Studies of Long Island

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replenish the Magothy and Lloyd aquifer sys-tems lying below the Upper Glacial aquifer. It has been estimated that up to two-fifths of the recharge from rainfall moves into the deeper aquifers. The extent to which groundwater on site contributes to deep-flow recharge has been confirmed through the use of an extensive network of shallow and deep wells installed at BNL and surrounding areas (Geraghty & Miller 1996). This groundwater system is the primary source of drinking water for both on- and off-site private and public supply wells and has been designated a sole source aquifer system by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

During �007, the Laboratory used approxi-mately 1.15 million gallons of groundwater per day to meet potable water needs and heating and cooling requirements. Approximately 75 percent of the water pumped from BNL supply wells is returned to the aquifer through on-site

recharge basins and permitted discharges to the Peconic River. Under normal hydrologic condi-tions, most of the water discharged to the river recharges to the Upper Glacial aquifer before leaving the site. Human consumption, evapora-tion (cooling tower and wind losses), and sewer line losses account for the remaining 25 percent. An additional 3.4 million gallons of ground-water were pumped each day from remediation wells. This water is treated to remove contami-nants and is then returned to the aquifer by way of recharge basins or injection wells.

Groundwater flow directions across the BNL site are influenced by natural drainage systems: eastward along the Peconic River, southeast to-ward the Forge River, and south toward the Car-mans River (Figure 1-3). Pumping from on-site supply wells affects the direction and speed of groundwater flow, especially in the central, de-veloped areas of the site. The main groundwater



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explanation: the arrows formed by the wedges indicate wind direction. each concentric circle represents a 5 percent frequency; that is, how often the wind came from that direction. the wind direction was measured at heights of 10 and 90 meters. this diagram indicates that the predominant wind direction was from the south at the 10-m level and south-southwest at the 90-m level.

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Figure 1-4. bnL Wind rose (2007).

10-m level Calm (<0.5 m/s) 19.3%

shore streams, Great South Bay, and Atlantic Ocean. The regional groundwater flow system is discussed in greater detail in Stratigraphy and Hydrologic Conditions at the Brookhaven National Laboratory and Vicinity (Scorca et al. 1999). In most areas at BNL, the horizontal velocity of groundwater is approximately 0.75 to 1.2 feet per day (Geraghty & Miller 1996). In general, this means that groundwater travels for approximately �0 to �� years as it moves from the central, developed area of the site to the Laboratory’s southern boundary.

1.7 cLiMate

The Meteorological Group at BNL has been recording weather data on site since 1949. The Laboratory is broadly influenced by continen-tal and maritime weather systems. Locally, the Long Island Sound, Atlantic Ocean, and associated bays influence wind directions and humidity and provide a moderating influence on extreme summer and winter temperatures. The prevailing ground-level winds at BNL are from the southwest during the summer, from the northwest during the winter, and about equally from those two directions during the spring and fall (Nagle 1975, 1978). Figure 1-4 shows the �007 annual wind rose for BNL, which depicts the annual frequency distribution of wind speed and direction, measured at an on-site meteoro-logical tower at heights of 33 feet (10 meters) and 300 feet (90 meters) above land surface.

The average monthly temperature in the area for 2007 was 53.9 degrees Fahrenheit (°F). The average yearly temperature for the area was 51.7°F. While that temperature was slightly above normal, it did not nearly reach the re-cord-breaking yearly temperature of 53.2°F set in 2006. Figures 1-5 and 1-6 show the 2007 monthly mean temperatures and the historical annual mean temperatures, respectively.

With a total annual precipitation of 45.33 inches, �007 was a dry year in contrast to �006, which brought 61.59 inches of precipitation to the area. Figures 1-7 and 1-8 show the 2007 monthly and the 59-year annual precipitation data. Snowfall for the 2006–2007 winter season was 9.5 inches, well below the 31.2 inches of av-erage yearly snowfall for Long Island, and about

divide on Long Island is aligned generally east–west and lies approximately one-half mile north of the Laboratory. Groundwater north of the di-vide flows northward and ultimately discharges to the Long Island Sound. Groundwater south of the divide flows east and south, discharg-ing to the Peconic River, Peconic Bay, south

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BNL is designated as “scenic” under the New York State Wild, Scenic, and Recreational River System Act of 1972. Due to the general topography and porous soil, the land is very well drained and there is little surface runoff or open standing water. However, depressions form numerous small, pocket wetlands with standing water on a seasonal basis (vernal pools), and there are six regulated wetlands on site. Thus, a mosaic of wet and dry areas cor-

10 times less than the record high snowfall of 90.8 inches, set in the 1995–1996 snow season.

1.8 naturaL resources

The Laboratory is located in the oak/chestnut forest region of the Coastal Plain and consti-tutes about 5 percent of the 100,000-acre New York State–designated region on Long Island known as the Central Pine Barrens. The sec-tion of the Peconic River running through

Figure 1-5. bnL 2007 Monthly Mean temperature versus 59-year Monthly average.

Figure 1-6. bnL 2007 annual Mean temperature trend (59 years).

Figure 1-7. BNL 2007 Monthly Mean Temperature versus 59-Year Monthly Average.

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relates with variations in topography and depth to the water table.

Vegetation on site is in various stages of suc-cession, which reflects a history of disturbances to the area. For example, when Camp Upton was constructed in 1917, the site was entirely cleared of its native pines and oaks. Although portions of the site were replanted in the 1930s, portions were cleared again in 1940 when Camp Upton was reactivated by the U.S. Army. Other past disturbances include fire, local flooding, and draining. Current operations minimize dis-

turbances to the more natural areas of the site.More than 230 plant species have been identi-

fied at the Laboratory, including two species that are threatened in New York State and two that are classified as rare. Fifteen animal spe-cies identified on site include a number that are protected in New York State, as well as species common to mixed hardwood forests and open grassland habitats. At least 85 species of birds have been observed nesting on site, and more than �00 transitory bird species have been docu-mented visiting the site. (BNL is located within

Figure 1-7. bnL 2007 Monthly precipitation versus 59-year Monthly average.

Figure 1-8. bnL 2007 annual precipitation trend (59 years).

Figure 1-5. BNL 2007 Monthly Precipitation versus 59-Year Monthly Average.

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Figure 1-6. BNL Annual Precipitation Trend (59 Years).

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the Atlantic Flyway, with scrub/shrub habitats that offer food and rest to migratory songbirds.) Permanently flooded retention basins and other watercourses support amphibians and aquatic reptiles. Thirteen amphibian and 12 reptile spe-cies have been identified at BNL. Recent eco-logical studies have confirmed 26 breeding sites for the New York State endangered eastern tiger salamander in ponds and recharge basins. Ten species of fish have been identified as endemic to the site, including the banded sunfish and the swamp darter, both of which are threatened in New York State. Two types of butterflies that are protected in New York State are believed to breed on site due to the presence of their pre-ferred habitat and host plants, and a New York State threatened damselfly was found on site in 2005. To eliminate or minimize any negative ef-fects that Laboratory operations might cause to these species, precautions are in place to protect the on-site habitats and natural resources.

In November 2000, DOE established the Up-ton Ecological and Research Reserve at BNL. The 530-acre Upton Reserve (10 percent of the Laboratory’s property) is on the eastern portion of the site, in the Core Preservation Area of the Central Pine Barrens. The Upton Reserve cre-ates a unique ecosystem of forests and wetlands that provides habitats for plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. From 2000 to �004, funding provided by DOE under an Inter-Agency Agreement between DOE and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services was used to conduct resource management programs for the conser-vation, enhancement, and restoration of wildlife and habitat in the reserve. In 2005, manage-ment was transitioned to the Foundation for Ecological Research in the Northeast (FERN). The Laboratory continues to utilize the Upton Reserve Technical Advisory Group, made up of local land management agencies, to assist BNL and FERN with technical expertise and help determine natural resource management policy for the Laboratory and the Upton Reserve. Man-agement of the Upton Reserve falls within the scope of BNL’s Natural Resource Management Plan, and the area will continue to be managed for its key ecological values and as an area for ecological research. Additional information re-

garding the Upton Reserve and the Laboratory’s natural resources can be found in Chapter 6 of this report.

1.9 cuLturaL resources

The Laboratory is responsible for ensuring compliance with historic preservation require-ments. BNL’s Cultural Resource Management Plan was developed to identify, assess, and document the Laboratory’s historic and cultural resources. These resources include World War I trenches; Civilian Conservation Corps features; World War II buildings; and historic structures, programs, and discoveries associated with high-energy physics, research reactors, and other science conducted at BNL. The Laboratory cur-rently has three facilities classified as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places: the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor complex, the High Flux Beam Reactor complex, and the World War I training trenches associated with Camp Upton.

reFerenCeS and BiBlioGraphy

BNL. 2003. Natural Resource Management Plan for Brookhaven National Laboratory. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY.BNL. 2005. Cultural Resource Management Plan for Brookhaven National Laboratory. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY.DOE Order 231.1.A. 2003. Environment, Safety and Health Reporting. U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC. Geraghty and Miller, Inc. 1996. Regional Groundwater Model, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York. A Report to Brookhaven National Laboratory. November 1996.Kamer, Pearl M. 2006. The Economic Impact of Brookhaven National Laboratory on the New York State. Suffolk County Planning Commission, Suffolk County Department of Planning. October 2005.Koppelman, L.E. 1978. The Long Island Comprehensive Waste Treatment Management Plan (Long Island 208 Study), Vol. I and II. Long Island Regional Planning Board, Hauppauge, NY. July 1978.Nagle, C.M. 1975. Climatology of Brookhaven National Laboratory: 1949–1973. BNL-50466. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY. November 1975.Nagle, C.M. 1978. Climatology of Brookhaven National Laboratory: 1974–1977. BNL-50857. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY. May 1978.



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NYCRR. Title 27. Wild, Scenic, and Recreational River Systems Act. Article 15 and subsequent updates. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.Scorca, M.P., W.R. Dorsch, and D.E. Paquette. 1999. Stratigraphy and Hydrologic Conditions at the Brookhaven National Laboratory and Vicinity, Suffolk County, New York, 1994–97. U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 99-4086. 55 pp.Warren, M.A., W. deLaguna, and N.J. Lusczynski.1968. Hydrology of Brookhaven National Laboratory and Vicinity, Suffolk County, New York. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 1156-C.

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